exhibition 2023

The exhibition “Nowotwórczość (Onco-creation) – At the Crossroads of Science and Art” invites reflection and dialogue on how the resources of science and art can be used for the benefit of cancer patients. Bringing together these two seemingly distant worlds may help transform the way we perceive the experience of illness and make the field of oncology more approachable for those who are healthy.

Researchers from the Centre for Translational Research and Molecular Biology of Cancer at the National Research Institute of Oncology in Gliwice have shared images captured during their studies of cancer cells, believing that these visuals can help both patients and healthy individuals better understand and reduce the fear associated with cancer.

By revealing the visual dimension of oncology, we aim to make this complex and multidimensional subject more accessible to a wider audience.
Through authentic imagery, we hope to fill the visual gap in oncology – to nourish the sense of sight and, in doing so, ease the anxieties that stem from the unknown.

The exhibition presents microscopic images in the form of small-format works created by scientists. Here, the researcher becomes both artist and guide, striving to present complex aspects of cancer biology in an accessible way and to offer insight into its intricate structure.

When looking at these images, one might feel as though gazing at something beyond our world – glowing, shimmering colours evoke associations with the cosmos, coral reefs, or city lights at night. They are fascinating, inspiring, and beautiful.

For thousands of years, art has brought people hope, solace, and courage. Every patient has a different story, a different cancer, a different response to treatment, and a unique way of experiencing illness and its effects. Art – a form of creation we can relate to – helps express the self, redefine reality, and convey feelings, emotions, and impressions. It provides genuine support for the most delicate layers of our humanity.

We hope that “Nowotwórczość (Onco-creation) – At the Crossroads of Science and Art” will mark the beginning of a conversation that leads to a new perspective on cancer. We believe it will deepen understanding, make science more approachable, and foster clearer communication in oncology.